Improved velocipede



1. B. BLAIR;

Velocipede. No. 88,120. Patented March 23,1869.

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JOHN B. BLAIR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' Letters Patent No. 88,120, dated Ma/rch 23, 1869.

IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern forming part of this specification, and inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved velocipede.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same.

Figure 3 is a front view of the back wheel.

Figures 4 and 5 are views of detached parts, to be hereinafter referredto.

My improvements relate First, to the mode of propelling two-wheelvelocipedes;

Second, to the steering-apparatus; and

' Third, to means for supporting the vehicle in an upright positibn.

My invention consists in combining with the means of propulsion,(consisting of a friction-bar and disk,) a jam-nut, which is adapted toclamp the foot-pieces and disk, by means of which the friction-bar isconverted into a rotating crank.

It further consists in placing a spring of peculiar construction in thehead of the device, under the tiller, for the purpose of facilitatingthe control of the velocipede, as will be hereinafter described.

In order that others may so understand my invention as to be able tomake and use my improvement, I will now proceed to describe the same indetail, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar lettersindicate corresponding parts in the several fig ures.

A, in the drawings, represents the reach, provided with a bifurcatedportion, A, between the sides, (6 a, of which, the back wheel B ismounted.

The reach is secured, in any way suitable, to a projection, b, formedonthe boss, 0, or head of the machine, through which the spindle passes.

D representsthe seat fixed on top the reach.

The front wheel E is mounted in the bifurcated portion F of the spindleG.

For propelling the vehicle,-I make use of the devices to be nowdescribed.

On each end of the axle c of the front wheel, a disk H, is keyed, andbetween each disk and the sides of the hub, a bar, (I, with a hole inone end, so as to fit the axle; or a part of the box rounded for thepurpose, is so hungas to move freely around the axle.

This bar is made long enough to reach a little beyond the periphery ofthe disk, so that in its outer end, at right angles to the bar, may besecured theis turned so near to the disk as to form, with the bar, aclutch-device, which clasps the edge of the disk.

The bar is made of flexible metal, so as to form a spring to causefriction by pressure against the disk. If desired, a block of metal, a,perforated longitudinally, and triahgular in cross-section, may beloosely fitted on. the foot-piece, and there retained by a nut, j. henthe foot-piece is pushed forward by the foot, the bar (I is twisted alittle, and thereby the clutch,

formed by said bar andthe nut t, is made to clasp the disk tightly, andturn the same by friction.

When the forward pressure of thefoot is removed, the clutch releases itshold, and the foot-piece is returned to its normal position by the force.of a spring,

72-, attached to the sides of the bifurcated portion of the spindle, andpressing againstthe fronts of the bars d. On again applying the pressureof the foot, the clutch operates as before, partially rotating the disksH and the front wheel.

The springs it maybe removed, and the nuts tturned tightly against thedisk, when the whole arrangement will be converted into thecrank-movement, as in the common velociped'e.

Among the advantages arising from this mode of propulsion may be namedFirst, that while, in the crank-movement, the practised rider findsgreat difficulty in putting his foot upon the foot-piece, and thebeginner finds it impossible, on account of the foot-piece beingnecessarily in motion at the-time the attempt is made, in the presentdevice the foot-piece is always in a fixed position until the foot isplaced upon it.

.Second, the foot, instead of being obliged to move entirely andconstantly around the hub, is only required to move over that portion ofthe circle in which it is effectual in driving the wheel.

Third, the foot moving only on one side of the hub, and therefore makinga shorter reach, it is practicable to drive a much larger wheel, and aboy may be able to use a machine, which otherwise would be too large forhim.

Fourth, the foot-piece is a rest for the foot without hindrance to themovement.

Fifth, the foot-piece acts as a brake, by simply press- I will nowdescribe my improvements in the steerlug-apparatus.

as, figs. 4. and 5, represents an annular collar of metal, fitted on tothe spindle G within, the head 0 being provided with a central openingfor this purpose, and prevented from turning, by oiisets l occupyingopen slots 0 in the lower part of said head 0.

This collar x is provided with two curved springs n, one on the upper,and one on thelower surface.

These springs are each secured at one end, while their free ends enterholes formed in the spindle.

lhe springs are counteracting toward each other, but when the wheels ofthe velocipede are'in a straight line, the springs are entirely inert,so that the wheel is to the utmost degree sensitive to pressure on thetiller.

\Vhen the front wheel begins to turn, the springs commence slightresistance, and, as the wheel is turned further, this resistanceincreases in rapid ratio until the deflection of the wheel is stopped.

As soon as the tiller is released from pressure, the wheel is righted bythe action of the springs in returning to their former position.

Wheels without such device are quite 'ungovernable by a beginner, onaccount of the instinctive impulse to turn the wheel too far, and to thetendency of the wheel itself to turn further than was intended.

To sustain the velocipede inv an upright position, when not in use, orwhile riding, I employ two braces, I i, hung, one to each side of thereach, near the rear end of the latter, as shown.

The braces are pivoted to inclined surfaces, 11, so that, when drawn up,they are parallel to the wheel, and when allowed to drop, they divergeoutwardly, so as to brace the vehicle, as shown in fig. 3,-and sustainthe same in an upright position.

The movement of these braces is eiiected by means of a cord attached tothe upper end of each, thence passed through eyes, q r, formed in thereach, and finally made fast to the tiller, which is loosely mounted ina frame, 3, fixed on top the spindle.

The tiller can be turned without changing the position of the hands, andthe cord being thus wound up, the braces are raised from the ground. Byturning the tiller in the opposite direction," the cord is unwound, whenthe braces either fall by their own weight, or are throwndown by theforce of a spring.

The utility of this device is sufficiently apparent without furtherdescription.

By the use of my improvements, a velocipede is produced, which is muchmore simple than those now in use, audwhich can be propelled andcontrolled with less exertion. and more safety, convenience, and easethan heretofore.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Incombinatioh with the friction-bar d and disk H, the jam-nut whichclamps the foot-pieces and disk, by means of which the friction-bar isconverted into a rotating crank, substantially as and for the purposedescribed. 1 v

2. The springs attached to the collar, in combination with the spindleand head, substantially as and for the purpose described.

To the above I have signed my name, this 26th day of January, 1869.

J. B. BLAIR. Witnesses:

DAVID SHIVE, W. A. WInDnRsHnIM.

